While the COVID-19 pandemic led to virtual and hybrid learning, it did not interrupt our investment in school construction and renovations in Howard County. If anything, the pandemic underscored how critical it is to ensure our students and educators have the best learning and teaching environment possible. All of our efforts have the same end goal: to invest in our next generation now.

Read more in my op-ed here.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended Pfizer booster shots for residents 65 years and older, and for residents who are at a high risk of severe COVID-19. As of now, only residents who have received a first and second dose of the Pfizer shot are eligible to receiving a booster shot. 

I encourage residents to talk to their medical provider with any questions and to determine individual benefits of receiving a booster dose. The Howard County Health Department will be administering booster shots to those eligible. Find a clinic near you at vaccine.howardcountymd.gov

It has been a little over 18 months since Howard County saw its first case of COVID-19. Since then, we have made incredible progress with our vaccination rates and our community has done exceptional in slowing the spread. As of 9:00am, our 7-day average positivity rate is 2.84% and our 7-day average case rate per 100,000 of our population is 11.9. There are currently 11 COVID-19 patients in both ICU and Acute Care units.

 

We are seeing a fewer number of cases in vaccinated residents. Residents who have been fully vaccinated and tested positive are more likely to have less severe symptoms. It’s important to remember, vaccines don’t eliminate virus, but instead protect us from mild to severe infections. 

 

As we head towards cooler weather, it’s more important than ever to get vaccinated. We have an abundant supply of vaccine available and getting vaccinated is the single most effective way to prevent hospitalization or death from COVID-19. 

 

Howard County Health Department clinics also administer the Pfizer booster shots for those eligible. Encourage your family and friends to visit vaccine.howardcountymd.gov to find a clinic nearby.

If you have:

I strongly encourage you to get tested as soon as possible. As we see the rise of the Delta variant, please remember that it is possible to have COVID-19 and not have any symptoms.

Additionally, in order to prevent further spread of COVID-19, it’s important that residents who have tested positive work cooperatively with our contact tracers to keep our community safe. We've slowed the spread before, and we can do it again by working together, and taking the precautions we know are effective.

For more information, please click here.

Did you hear the good news? Busboys and Poets officially opens on October 10th, during the Books in Bloom festival! This will be their largest location in the Country, and will be a perfect fit for our growing Merriweather District – a central hub for many residents and visitors.

Get your poetry ready, and grab your tickets for the festival here

It is so important for our residents to have safe and accessible infrastructure. We accomplish that, in part, by ensuring that our streets are well designed with safety in mind for pedestrians. I was so excited to join Senator Guy Guzzone, Councilwoman Christiana Rigby, Laurel Mayor Craig A. Moe, our Howard County Economic Development Authority and others to celebrate new sidewalk connections in Paddock Pointe.

This stretch of Route 1, which previously had no sidewalk, is now an important pedestrian link connecting North Laurel with the City of Laurel. It is a wonderful example of the Complete Streets that are so critical across our county and region.

For 22 years, Dr. Kate Hetherington has been an incredible, dedicated educator at Howard Community College. As President for the last 14 years, she has been a trusted and valued leader in our region, growing HCC’s enrollment and establishing critical partnerships to fuel our next generation of leaders. Under her leadership, HCC earned the Malcom Bridges National Quality Award in 2019. 

Dr. Hetherington has been a wonderful partner in our community, creating ready and successful students for generations and making education affordable, accessible, and personal. I wish her the absolute best on her retirement and future endeavors.

Art provides the medium to have a conversation with the world, to share a story, and to inspire movements. I was pleased to join my friend First Lady Yumi Hogan and many of our community leaders at the reception for the Korean Royal Court Art Exhibit at the Howard County Welcome Center.

It’s so important that our community has this opportunity to experience these beautiful works of art. This exhibit, with over 30 works of art, featuring scrolls, fans, paintings and small sculptures, is a unique and welcome addition to our community. Exhibit runs from September 22 - October 20, 2021 at the Howard County Welcome Center, and I encourage you to visit with friends and family!

I was glad to join Michael, Ellen, and Matt Koplow for the grand reopening and 5th year anniversary of The ClayGround Studio & Gallery, a true gem in Old Ellicott City. It’s a place where family, friends, and neighbors can come together to be inspired and tap into their inner artist and where visitors can come to support our local artists.

Congratulations to ClayGround! Please, continue to support our small, local businesses. Learn more about them here.

No matter how many years have passed, no matter how many periods of crisis we endure, we will never forget those who sacrificed their lives in service. 

I joined the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services at the Garden of Valor in Marriottsville to recognize and honor our fallen fire and rescue service members. 

The fire service has a great tradition of family, honor and respect, and it is evident in the service provided by our brothers and sisters. These heroes and their families deserve our thanks, appreciation, and our eternal gratitude.

I was so excited to join Howard County Recreation and Parks to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Robinson Nature Center!

The center is a unique LEED Platinum-certified nature education facility situated on 18 acres of land adjacent to the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area. Offering more than 450 programs every year, our team at Robinson Nature Center has facilitated the enjoyment and understanding of our natural resources and bridge the gap between people and nature. After a decade of operations, we're so grateful for the foresight and generosity of James and Anne Robinson, whose property made this magical place possible. 

Please join me in wishing them many more years of fostering connection and learning in our community!

Howard County is a place where we don’t just tolerate our diversity, but we celebrate it. Everyone should be comfortable to live their best lives and should not be afraid be who they are.

I invite you to join me and PFLAG Howard County. on October 9th from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for the 2021 HoCo Pride Festival at the Merriweather Park at Symphony Woods. There will be food, music, vendors, crafts, a mermaid tank, and so many more fun activities for people of all ages!  

Get your FREE tickets here.

It was great joining Kristi Simon and the Central Maryland Chamber of Commerce for their networking event at The Periodic Table - Columbia. It has been a challenging 18 months for our county, especially for our small businesses. Howard County is committed to ensuring all our businesses can prosper and thrive. Due to our partnership with the Central Maryland Chamber, we are able to achieve this and better respond to address issues during this challenging time.

Thank you Kristi, and every member of the chamber for your continued commitment to our business community and collaboration on the road to recovery. Please, continue to support our local businesses.

Tourism is vital to our economy, bringing in over $400 million dollars and supporting over 8,000 full time jobs. I was thrilled to join Amanda Hof, and the entire Howard County Tourism Board to celebrate 40 years of success. 

From historic towns such as Savage and Ellicott City, to the dynamic communities of Columbia, Maple Lawn and Elkridge, to rural Woodstock and West Friendship, our county has something for everyone. We’re so grateful for the partnership with Visit Howard County and look forward to another 40 years, and beyond!

Howard County has been allocated $63.2 million in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan. We invite Howard County residents to provide input on how this funding should be used. The survey should take less than 5 minutes. 

I was pleased to join the Marriotts Ridge High School Black Student Union for their annual meet and greet potluck. The Black Student Achievement Program ensures our students have the resources needed to be ready and successful. 

I would like to thank Pastor Robbie Davis, David Evans and Cara Roberts for their commitment. Thanks to your mentorship and the hard work of students and parents, our future is bright.

For more than 175 years, Clarks Ace Hardware has been a staple in our community. They have sustained a strong family work ethic, a total dedication to customer service, adapting quickly to changes in the hardware business, and the ability to adopt new technology. Moreover, they continue to keep community service at the forefront of all their endeavors.

I was so glad to visit Margaret Clark, a seventh generation owner, to thank her for their commitment to making our community a better place. Please, continue to support our small, family-owned businesses. Learn more about Clark’s here.

Please join me in congratulating HoCo Brew Hive on their second anniversary! They source local honey to create a flavorful and unique menu, inspired by the food we know and love here in Maryland. We’re so grateful for their valuable contributions to our community and wish them the best in future years!

Please continue to support our small restaurants and businesses, especially as they get back on their feet. Learn more about HoCo Brew Hive here.

For over 25 years, the divine ladies of The Iota Lambda Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. have hosted a coat drive to help keep members of our community safe and warm.

As fall begins, it’s important for our most vulnerable residents to have the vital resources to not only survive, but also thrive. I’m also thankful for my brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. - Howard County, MD for their support of this important event.

Together, we will continue to look out for our friends, family, and neighbors in need.

Every 65 seconds an American is diagnosed with dementia. I was glad to join the Alzheimer's Association, Greater Maryland Chapter for their annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s in honor of those in our community who we have lost and those who may be currently suffering. By continuing our work together, we can ensure everyone can live their bets lives.

Thank you to Emerge Inc., David McShea the Executive Director of Alzheimer's Association, the Walk to End Alzheimer's Committee, and Brent Jones the Walk Chair.

To learn more about Alzheimer’s, and how you can help someone in your life who may also be struggling, please visit the Alzheimer’s Association website here.

All our children deserve a place where they feel safe and can be their best selves. It’s why organizations like Voices For Children Howard County are an essential asset to our community.

I was honored to join them tonight to support their mission in serving all our children who have been abused and neglected. Together, we can ensure all our children in need have the love, compassion, and home they deserve.

As one of Columbia's oldest and largest Village Centers, we're thrilled to help Long Reach celebrate their 50th year. While the Village Center has changed over the past five decades, it’s an exciting central hub for art, education, entrepreneurs and economic empowerment. 

I invite you to join me for an outdoor festival to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Long Reach Village on Friday, October 15 from 5 pm to 9 pm and Saturday, October 16 from 11 am to 9 pm in the Long Reach Village Center. This not-to-be-missed weekend celebration will bring together acclaimed music and performing arts entertainment, an arts and crafts show and sale, food trucks, family friendly programming, and more. Learn more about the celebration here.

Howard County is one of the best places to live, work, play, and grow for all, and it’s no surprise that many want to move to or remain in the County. The latest housing sales data show that Howard County is a place that offers its residents prosperity and an opportunity for economic growth. Although these are positive benefits for many, rising home prices make it more difficult for our growing workforce of all income levels to afford to live here.

Open enrollment in the County’s Moderate Income Housing Unit (MIHU) Homeownership program begins October 1. Please use this link to access the open enrollment application.

The State of Maryland has developed a program which allows credits against a homeowner's property tax bill if the property taxes exceed a fixed percentage of the person's gross income. The deadline to apply is October 1st, 2021, and I strongly encourage you to apply today and share this with those who may benefit from this credit.

For more information and to apply, please click here.

On October 7^th, DCRS’ Consumer Protection Advisory Board will be hosting a virtual forum, “Navigating the Landlord /Tenant Relationship,” to educate and inform those who own or rent properties in Howard County. The forum will feature a panel of experts from Howard County Government agencies and community partners, who will discuss landlord/tenant laws, eviction prevention, discriminatory practices, housing voucher programs and the responsibilities of both tenants and landlords. The forum will take place via Webex from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on the 7^th and is free. To register to participate, click HERE and/or for more information, contact the Office of Consumer Protection at 410-313-6420 or email consumer@howardcountymd.gov. 

As announced back in May, to honor Howard County residents who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, DCRS’ Office of Veteran and Military Families (OVMF) is launching a Fallen Heroes Tribute webpage. If you know a county resident whose story of valor you’d like to share on our new website, I encourage you to complete and submit OVMF’s Fallen Heroes Form today.

Now through Friday, November 5^th, OVMF is collecting handmade scarves and hats to send with care packages to our deployed military members. Scarves should be four to six inches wide and 48 to 50 inches long without fringe and hats should fit an adult-size head, and can be made from wool, acrylic or non-flammable fleece, in shades of blues, browns, olive, grays, maroon, black or red/white/blue combinations. Please be sure to pin a note to each scarf or hat with the yarn fiber contents listed, and feel free to include a personal note for a military member as well. Handmade items can be dropped off at one of 10 locations in Howard County by the 5^th at the latest.

For more information about this initiative, please contact Ms. Lisa Terry with OVMF at 410-313-0821 or lbterry@howardcountymd.gov.

The Howard County Veterans Foundation is NOW accepting nominations of Howard County first responders for the Howard County Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal. This year’s Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal theme is Veterans Supporting First Response. The Grand Marshal is an honorary title bestowed upon an individual who represents the values and moral fiber of what it means to be a member of the Howard County community of Veterans and military families. The Grand Marshal is recognized at the parade and lakefront ceremony and participates in the parade, whenever possible, riding or walking with the designated Grand Marshal float. To learn more about the qualifications and nomination process, click HERE.

September 25^th to October 3^rd is “Happy Drive Electric Week” and this week our Office of Community Sustainability is highlighting what we have been up to here in Howard County Government to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to electric and hybrid vehicles. So far this year, we’ve assigned 111 hybrid vehicles to our Police Department and the Howard County Sheriff’s Office. With these additional vehicles, we now have the largest number of police and sheriff patrol hybrids of any jurisdiction in Maryland.

In 2019, my administration implemented a new Green Fleet policy, requiring all gas-powered administrative vehicles be replaced with electric vehicles when due for replacement. By increasing our Green Fleet, we are see a cost-savings of more than $200,000 a year and a reduction in our fuel consumption by more than 85,000 gallons per year. To learn more about our Green Fleet, click HERE.

In case you missed it, September is National Preparedness Month. All month long, our Office of Emergency Management (OEM) has been sharing facts and helpful tips on its social media channels (Facebook and Twitter) on how you, your family and/or organization/business can "Prepare to Protect” in order to ensure you are ready when disaster strikes. You can also find preparedness tips and information about our local hazards on OEM's "Ready HoCo" website at readyhoco.com. With just a few days left this month, I encourage you to take a moment before September comes to an end to learn more about what you can do now to prepare your family, such as building a kit and making a plan.

In case you missed it, the Howard County Health Department (HCHD) is now administering third doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to those considered moderately to severely immunocompromised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at all of its COVID-19 vaccine clinics. While a complete list of those currently eligible for a third dose can be found on the CDC's website, individuals should still first talk to their healthcare provider about their medical condition on whether getting an additional dose is appropriate for them. Individuals identified as needing a third dose can make an appointment for any HCHD vaccine clinic online or by calling 410-313-6284.

For those that received the Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine, as noted on HCHD's website, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and CDC have not yet authorized this vaccine for an additional dose as there is not enough data at this time to determine whether immunocompromised people who received this vaccine also have an improved antibody response following an additional dose of the same vaccine.

Misplaced you COVID-19 Vaccination Card? Never fear! You can easily request your vaccination records the Maryland Department of Health’s “Maryland MyIR” website. Maryland MyIR is a free website service that allows residents to view and print copies of their official vaccination records directly from ImmuNet, Maryland's immunization information system. ImmuNet is used by healthcare providers to securely maintain vaccination records for Maryland residents of all ages.

If you or someone you know is a renter in Howard County, did you know the State of Maryland offers a Renter's Tax Credit Program? Modeled after and designed to be similar in principle to the Homeowners' Tax Credit Program, the Renter's Tax Credit Program provides property tax credits for renters who meet certain requirements. The program provides financial assistance of up to $1,000 per year (that's $83.33 per month) for tenants to use towards their rent. To learn more and/or to apply, visit www.marylandtaxcredit.com/renters. Please note, the DEADLINE to apply for this tax credit program is next Friday, October 1, 2021.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month to our Hispanic, Latino/a, and Spanish speaking community members. This month-long celebration, which runs from September 15^th to October 15^th provides us with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and learn more about the cultural contributions and triumphs of Latin people across the diaspora, but particularly within the United States. I encourage all residents to take join our Office of Human Rights and Equity (OHRE) this month to explore Hispanic and Latino history, music, art, food, literature and more. For a list of events and activities OHRE is offering this Hispanic Heritage Month, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/OHRE today. All month long, OHRE will also be sharing a variety of things on its social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) and I invite you to follow them along!

email OHRoutreach@howardcountymd.gov.

Feliz Mes de la Herencia Hispana a los miembros de nuestra comunidad hispana, latina y hispanohablante. Esta celebración de un mes, que se celebra del 15 de septiembre al 15 de octubre, nos da una maravillosa oportunidad para celebrar y aprender más sobre las contribuciones culturales y los triunfos de los latinos en todo el hemisferio, pero particularmente los dentro de los Estados Unidos. Aliento a todos los residentes a acompañar nuestra Oficina de Derechos Humanos y Equidad (OHRE) este mes para explorar la historia, la música, el arte, la gastronomía, la literatura hispana y latina y más. Para obtener una lista de eventos y actividades que ofrece la OHRE este Mes de la Herencia Hispana, visite www.howardcountymd.gov/OHRE. Durante todo el mes, la OHRE también compartirá una variedad de cosas en sus cuentas de redes sociales (Facebook, Twitter e Instagram) y les invito a seguirlas.

Celebrate Indigenous People’s Day from noon to 1:00 p.m. on October 11^th with OHRE. This virtual celebration will feature award-winning Howard County poet, Edgar Silex, and a discussion on the meaning and significance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day with Native American Howard County resident artist, community organizer and activist, Ani Begay Auld. The event will be live streamed on OHRE’s Facebook page and the County’s YouTube channel.

Join OHRE for a virtual lunch and learn on October 14^th to explore the cultural diversity within Latin American cultures. Set to begin at noon, this hour-long event will include a presentation on the African roots of various Latin American cultures and conversation between Afro-Latinos about their experience within the United States as persons with dual ethnicities. To learn more and/or to register for this event, click HERE.

The Howard County Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission is seeking nominations for the Commission’s 2022 “Living the Dream” Award. This annual award recognizes an individual or organization (community, civic or religious) who has promoted the teaching and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., through community involvement. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m., Friday, October 15^th and the award winners will be recognized at the Commission’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration, scheduled to take place Sunday, January 16, 2022. 

In addition to its “Living the Dream Award,” the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Commission is also seeking entries from Howard County students for its essay, oratory and poster contests. For its three contests, the Commission is calling upon students to reflect upon Dr. King’s statement, and this year’s contest theme, “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” For the essay and oratory contests, middle and high school students must discuss what can be done to foster an inclusive culture in your school, community or organization and give an example of what they have done or experienced that illustrates this. For the essay contest, students with disabilities may submit entries using other media and/or visual presentation. For the poster contest, elementary and middle school students must compose an original piece of artwork using a medium of their choosing that shows their interpretation of this year’s theme.

For complete essay, oratory and poster contest rules and details on how to submit your entry and application, visit OHRE’s “Human Rights Contest and Awards” website . Contest winners will receive a cash prize. The DEADLINE for all contests is 5:00 p.m., Friday, October 15^th.

On Tuesday, October 19^th, join OHRE and the Howard County Human Rights Commission for an evening celebrating the individuals, students and organizations who have had a significant impact in Howard County in the areas of human rights, social justice, and community uplift. The evening will being with a light reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Human Rights Commission Awards Ceremony at 7:00 p.m. To learn more about this year’s FREE event and/or register, click HERE.

OHRE’s Outreach Unit’s Humanity Matters Dialogue Series is set to return Wednesday, October 20^th (please note this new start date from what was previously announced). Through this award-winning series, participants learn how to authentically interact with people from different races and cultures through the sharing of dialogue, historical and socio-economic data, all while gaining effective communication skills with the intention of creating a more inclusive and supportive community. To register for this five-part series, click HERE. For questions and/or more information about this or future workshops and training opportunities, please contact OHRE at 410-313-6430 or email OHRoutreach@howardcountymd.gov.

This Diversity Awareness Month, OHRE has partnered with Mount Hebron High School (MHHS) to put on a youth-led speaker series on diversity, inclusion and cultural awareness. The series will feature students of a variety of different racial, ethnic, gender and religious backgrounds from six of Howard County’s high schools. These students will tackle some of diversity and inclusion’s most difficult topics, such as the racialized experience of Asian Americans, the importance of diversity in the classroom, religious diversity and acceptance, and the liminality of race and the biracial experience. The event will take place Thursday, October 26^th from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at MHHS, located at 9440 Old Frederick Road in Ellicott City, and masks are required. For more information and/or register for this event, visit www.howardcountymd.gov/OHRE today.

To learn about DPW projects currently underway, visit https://bit.ly/2V6K5B6. Searchable by project category and street name, from this site you’ll find additional project details, including news releases about the project. You can also contact DPW’s Customer Service Office at 410-313-3440 or email publicworks@howardcountymd.gov for further assistance.

If you have questions or are interested in finding out about a State road (numbered roadway) project in your area, visit the Maryland State Highway Administration’s (SHA) “Project Portal” website.

Our Bureau of Environmental Services will host TWO document shredding events next month, with the first shredding event schedule to take place Saturday, October 9^th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (OR until the trucks are full) at our Gary J Arthur Community Center, 2400 MD 97 in Cooksville. The second event will take place on Saturday, October 30th from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (OR until the trucks are full) at the Long Gate Park & Ride, located off MD 100 Exit 1A in Ellicott City.

Held rain or shine, Howard County residents may bring up to three bags or boxes of paper to be shredded onsite. For more information and/or questions, contact the Bureau at 410-313-6444 or visit www.howardcountymd.gov/documentshredding.

Our Bureau of Highways is responsible for approximately 3,650 roadways. In its continual effort to maintain these County roads, every two years, the Bureau brings in a special vehicle to do an assessment of the County's roadway surfaces. The data is collected and the roads are given a score, helping the Bureau prioritize its limited resources for road resurfacing, repair and replacement. Now underway, the Bureau will be conducting its latest roadways assessment over the next two to three weeks. To learn more about this assessment, click HERE or contact the Bureau at 410-313-7450 and/or email highways@howardcountymd.gov.

Please keep in mind, for questions and/or concerns about numbered roadways in Howard County, such as MD 175, US 1, US 29 and MD 103, you'll want to contact the Maryland State Highway Administration and they will be able to assist you further with regards to these roadways.

Our Department of Recreation & Parks has announced that Wine in the Woods will return May 21-22, 2022! Tickets will go on sale this March. If you are interested in being an event sponsor for Wine in the Woods, please see pages 14 and 15 of Recreation & Parks’ Sponsorship Booklet .

Starting next Saturday, October 9^th, get your game on with Recreation & Parks’ “Introduction to Dungeons & Dragons.” During this nine-week adult class, seasoned Dungeon Master Mica will guide participants through the creative process of character creation, adventuring, leveling up and campaigning. By the end of the program, participants will have the basic skills needed to participate in anyone’s tabletop roleplaying game. To learn more and/or to register, visit https://tinyurl.com/HCRPDnDFall. 

If you are 40 or older and looking for fitness courses that meet your needs, I encourage you to check out our Recreation & Parks’ Therapeutic Aqua Exercise or “H2GO!” Water Fitness courses at our Roger Carter Community Center. Therapeutic Aqua Exercise offers gentle exercise with proven results, designed to improve balance, endurance, strength and more. Enjoy aquatic exercise modalities recommended for chronic illnesses such as arthritis, fibromyalgia and Parkinson’s disease. Click HERE today to register for one of Recreation & Parks’ upcoming fall classes. 

Want to challenge yourself? “H2GO!” Water Fitness brings the fun of working out to the pool with kickboards, water dumbbells and heart-pumping music that will get you laughing and splashing. To register for one of Recreation & Parks’ “H2GO!” Water Fitness classes, click HERE.

October 4^th through October 10^th is Active Aging Week and to celebrate, Recreation & Parks is once again hosting its “Encore Showcase.” Join Recreation & Parks’ Active Aging team and extraordinary instructors from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday October 5^th at Blandair Regional Park, for a fun-filled, free event geared towards keeping your mind and body active. Come try your hand at yoga, bocce, croquet, pickleball and square dancing, take part in a mini fitness session, complete a quick art project, and so much more. While pre-registration is not required, it is recommended for event updates. For questions and/or more information, please contact Ruth Coleman at 410-313-4723 or email rucoleman@howardcountymd.gov. The event rain date is October 7^th.

Robinson Nature Center Field Trips

Did you know Recreation & Parks’ Robinson Nature Center (RNC) offers in-person and virtual field trip packages for schools? In this video, RNC’s Director Katie Peet explains the variety of ways you can bring RNC’s award-winning educational experiences into the classroom. From at-your-own-pace exploration with RNC’s rentable nature treasure chests and video science presentations, to unique classroom presentations and eyepopping movies in its full dome planetarium, it’s never been easier to learn with our Robinson Nature Center.

Parents/guardians let your little ones embark on an adventure this fall with Recreation & Parks’ Little History Explorers preschool programs. This month, Recreation & Parks’ little history explorers became junior archaeologists. They explored the ruins at the Patapsco Female Institute through an ABC Scavenger Hunt, learned about the past through a trash pit excavation and studied plants and vegetables through Paleobotany. To learn more about this educational, interactive and fun program, including a list of upcoming Little History Explorers programs, visit https://tinyurl.com/LittleHistoryExplorersFall2021 or contact Kelly Palich at 410-313-0423 or email kpalich@howardcountymd.gov.

The County’s Belmont Manor is now accepting weddings for summer 2022. Enjoy in the rich history and breathtaking garden views of this historical gem and one of Howard County’s truly unique rental venues on your special day. For more information, call 410-313-0200 or email belmontmanormd@howardcountymd.gov.

As a reminder, the handball courts at HCRP’s Atholton Park at 6875 Greenleigh Drive in Columbia are currently closed for a renovations. Improvements to the courts include resurfacing and painting of the interior walls along with access door replacements. During this project, the adjacent pickleball courts will also be briefly closed to allow for the resurfacing and painting of the shared wall between the handball and pickleball courts. 

Those looking for an alternative location to play handball during this time are encouraged to visit HCRP’s Centennial Park North Area. Pickleball players may also use the tennis courts at Hammond, Schooley Mill, Rockburn Branch (West) and Western Regional parks. While lines have been painted on these courts, players will need to bring their own net.

HCRP is seeking volunteers 16 years or older for its October Haunted Experience at Rockburn Branch Park. Event dates are October 15^th, 16^th, 22^nd, 23^rd, 29^th and 30^th. For more information and/or to apply, please email Melissa Byrne at mbyrne@howardcountymd.gov.

Oakland Mills Road from Old Montgomery Road to Snowden River Parkway. The Office conducted a Complete Streets corridor study of this segment of roadway, and based on further analysis, is advancing improvements from Dobbin Road to Old Montgomery Road. The final design plans and construction schedule are now available HERE and feedback and/or questions can be submitted by email to the Office at transportation@howardcountymd.gov by no later than tomorrow September 28^th.

With just a few days left in September, there is still time to take part in “Cycle September,” a fun, friendly global bike competition that challenges individuals, communities and businesses to see which can get the most family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to ride a bike during the month of September. Essentially, Cycle September is all about riding your bike and encouraging others to ride too! To participate, all you need to do is ride for 10 minutes to get into the prize drawings and help your organization climb the leaderboard. You can ride anywhere, any time – i.e. it doesn’t have to be a commute to work to count. If you want to ride for more than 10 minutes, even better! To register for this FREE event and/or for more information, visit www.lovetoride.net/centralmd today.

Brought to use by the folks at Love to Ride, Love to Ride is a fun, free online platform that encourages and supports individuals, workplaces and communities to ride their bikes. It doesn't matter if you ride every day or if you have not ridden a bike in years, Love to Ride offers plenty of tools to help you get back on.